The Miami Dolphins have several starters who are dealing with injuries, and head coach Mike McDaniel offered some major updates on the current injury report.
The Miami Dolphins could be heading into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with multiple starters not being able to suit up. Head coach Mike McDaniel divulged some information on many of the injured starters and the plan for them heading into Week 17.
One of the biggest concerns the Dolphins have is with center Aaron Brewer. He is currently dealing with a neck injury, which kept him out of practice on Wednesday and Thursday.
With Brewer's status up in the air, Miami would then rely on Andrew Meyer, who is set to return from IR. The offensive lineman returned to practice, and McDaniel indicated he may be in line to be the center should Brewer be ruled out.
"We'll practice him today, and just depending on the next 48 hours, how he responds to the practice, will dictate that. He's certainly got the motivation to," McDaniel said of Meyer.
Meyer is the team's backup center, and he has been out after suffering a tricep injury in the opening drive of Week 1 of the regular season. He has been steadily working his way back to the lineup and could get a start on Sunday.
In terms of Minkah Fitzpatrick, the Dolphins' star safety suffered a calf injury that kept him sidelined for Week 16. McDaniel was a bit more direct regarding his chance of playing.
"I would say certainly out for this game, but we will take it day by day for Week 18," McDaniel said.
Fitzpatrick was not placed on season-ending IR, and McDaniel indicated previously that there was a chance he would be able to return for Week 18 against the New England Patriots. The coach's comments have now confirmed that fact.
The Dolphins also have linebacker Tyrel Dodson dealing with a chest injury, and Darren Waller is nursing a groin injury.
McDaniel revealed that both will practice, but Waller is a lock to play on Sunday, while Dodson will see practice on Friday to determine if he has a chance to play on Sunday.
"Both those guys will be on the field today. We'll see how T-Dot's body responds, and it looks like Waller should be good to go," McDaniel said.
The question then became whether Jason Sanders would be able to kick in Week 17. McDaniel indicated that both he and Riley Patterson could be utilized.
"So, we'll put him [Sanders] in the scenario again and see how he responds to it. I think it's important that not only we have a kicker at the beginning of the game, but at the end of it, which has to do with his body ... we'll put him through practice and see how his body responds," McDaniel said.
McDaniel also shouted out Patterson, and it did sound a bit as if the team would likely move forward with Patterson as the kicker for Week 17.